Wednesday: The Healing of the Blind Man: Part 2
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 9th of October 2024
Read John 9:17-34. What questions did the leaders ask, and how did the blind man respond?
This long section of John 9:1-41 is the only portion of John where Jesus is not the main actor on the stage, though He is certainly the subject of discussion. Just as the question of sin started the story (John 9:2), the Pharisees think Jesus is a sinner because He healed on the Sabbath (John 9:16,24), and they will slander the healed man as “born in utter sin” (John 9:34, ESV).
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
A curious reversal occurs. The blind man comes to see more and more, not just physically but spiritually, as he is growing in his appreciation for Jesus and believing more strongly in Him. The Pharisees, in contrast, become more and more blind in their understanding, first being divided over Jesus (John 9:16) and then not knowing where He came from (John 9:29).
Meanwhile, his recounting of this miracle gives John the opportunity to tell us who Jesus is. The theme of signs in John 9:1-41 intersects with several other themes in the Gospel. John reaffirms that Jesus is the Light of the world (John 9:5; compare with John 8:12). The story also deals with Jesus’ mysterious origin. Who is He, where is He from, what is His mission (John 9:12,29; compare with John 1:14)? The figure of Moses, who is referenced in previous miracle accounts, also appears in this chapter (John 9:28-29; compare with John 5:45-46 and John 6:32). Finally, there is the theme of the response of the crowd. Some love darkness rather than light, while others respond in faith (John 9:16-18,35-41; compare with John 1:9-16, John 3:16-21, and John 6:60-71).
So scary here is the spiritual blindness of the religious leaders. A once-blind beggar can declare, “ ‘Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing’ ” (John 9:32-33, NKJV). And yet the religious leaders, the spiritual guides of the nation, the ones who should have been the first to recognize Jesus and accept Him as the Messiah—they, despite all the powerful evidence, cannot see it, or they don’t really want to see it. What a powerful warning about how our hearts can deceive us!
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Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-29. How does what Paul writes in these verses fit with John’s account above and how does the same principle apply even now? |
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This man’s testimony is so powerful. His courage for Jesus continues to grow as he shares out loud what Jesus has done for him. He sees more and more clearly the truth about Jesus’ divinity and power as he processes his own experience with Him. I believe our own testimonies will also grow our faith and hold our attention on Jesus during testing times more than any intellectual proofs or philosophical discussions. Grace shines, not out of a faulty defensive argument, but out of a true story of a heart changed by our risen Savior … Look at how each of the disciples also changed from scared and hiding to bold and all-in for Jesus…
When I was studying Sociology for my teaching diploma, I did a project on the sociology of the Seventh-Day Adventist boarding Academy I was teaching in at the time. The lecturer wrote the question in her comments when she marked the project: “Is the Academy’s aim to maintain the status quo?” It was a very perceptive question and I did a lot of thinking about the aims of Adventist Education, my writing and reporting skills and whether maintaining the status quo was a good or bad thing.
The healing of the man blind from birth challenged the status quo for the religious thinkers of Jesus time. They tried all sorts of arguments to get around the challenge of a supernatural event. We make a lot of spiritual mileage out of their unbelief. But, are we any better than the Pharisees and learned people in Jesus time. They wanted to maintain the status quo and I think we want to maintain it as well. Often we counter a divergent thought with the comment, “Well, that is not what Adventist’s believe!”
The real challenge in this story is that the people who thought they had worked all the religion stuff out did not want to change the status quo. Their religion was set in concrete and they were unwilling to discard previously held convictions about how religion should work.
Is it possible that God wants to work some miracles in us but we are too interested in vindicating what we believe to see and accept the miracles that God wants us to have. It is not in the Seventh-Day Adventist tradition.
Jesus had this to say about those who are spiritually complacent:
That last verse does not sound like maintaining the status quo to me!
I beg your pardon the SDA academy did more for me than many could do. The SDA academy gave me a mountain of faith that I still can not climb over, I have faith in God, owed to my SDA grade school, SDA academy, SDA college, and SDA churches most of all SDA parents and siblings.
Hats off to those who did not have this opportunity and Stay in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It was once said if you put them in a good environment, they will stay or at least return to it. 🙏
…and it did not do all that by maintaining the status quo. 😀 The best Christian education provides us with a dynamic for exercising our faith in a challenging environment.
Yes, Maurice - I wholeheartedly agree! Our faith is refined as we seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance during all times - the good times and times of adversity.
In good times, little oil will suffice, but it is wise to keep our ‘vessel’ full as we do not know when a call to action comes.
The faithful believer’s lamp is in need to be ready at all times to cast forth heaven’s bright Light of Grace and Truth through acts of inspired, loving kindness in word and deed !
I read in one of the old books, after returning from captivity, they made new statutes so they would not become slaves again. Out of fear. I know fear. Fear rules. Fear of the known and unknown. Eventually you no longer recognize it. It's normal. You embrace it because it keeps you safe. Devil's most dangerous lie. They wanted safety, familiarity.
Human reasoning will never fully explain nor understand the things of God. The job of the Holy Spirit is to reveal Christ. Each day our prayer should be for the in filling of the Holy Spirit so that he will be our teacher and that God's desire for us will be manifested in our lives.
I should not be talking about Romans 7:13-25, because I barely understand it. I understand it enough that it connects with the problem with the Pharisees. The problem is that the Pharisees could not get down to the solution Paul gives in verse 25 of Romans 7:13-25. They refused to let Christ remove the cataracts from there eyes, they seemed to enjoy the cataract syndrome. Is the problem they were comfortable with the law absolving sin or if you prefer save us from sin? Come now brother Whiteman, Helm and/or Unhrue, now is the time to chime in. We read this in prayer meeting last night, and the answer's were Paul is hard to understand.
By the way.
My wife has recently shared the following quote with me. It has been said, "behind every good man, there is a good wife". My paraphrase.
I wounder if the lack of prayer in private was the main problem of the Pharisees.
Pastor Mark Finley has the solution for Pharisees, people who just can't grasp Christ Saving Grace, have slippery hands, or are just depressed. I know it helped me. Click on the link below or copy and paste the link to your browser.
https://youtu.be/c_Uj2gXi4lo?si=e1eQ3Y01_MaN38Ubhttps://youtu.be/c_Uj2gXi4lo?si=eJqbcVyp3ObbUtBS
I did a Google search to determine why people reject facts (or the truth ) that contradict their beliefs. This search reveals the following:
In a perfect world, rational people would change their beliefs when faced with new evidence that contradicts them. Unfortunately, this is not how things work in reality. Cognitive biases, such as belief perseverance, make people reject information that goes against their beliefs, strengthening their original position. Confirmation bias, another cognitive bias, leads people to seek information that supports their existing beliefs, making it difficult for them to make objective decisions.
Because cognitive biases are an inescapable aspect of the human experience, we must rely on the Holy Spirit to provide us with divine guidance and lead us to the truth.
"The same sun that melts the butter, hardens the clay."
How true that saying is! The Light of the Glory of God revealed through Jesus, had opened the eyes of the man born blind. At the same time the Pharisees who thought they could "see" were strangely being blinded by that same "Light". Actually they were being blinded by Satan to turn from the "Light", because their deeds, and their plans were evil.
Indeed, there is "nothing new under the sun." Ecc. 1:9
People think that the cancel culture is a new phenomenon, but it's not. It's only recycled! It's a strategy of Satan to silence the truth, and truth tellers, and to keep people from coming to the truth.
In today's study we see that the Pharisees had employed the threat of "cancelation" from the Temple against anyone who would dare confess that Jesus is the Christ. Hence why the parents didn't want to get involved, and instead told them to ask their son what happened to him. How sad that religious leaders would employ such a diabolical ploy against people seeking and speaking the truth. "The more things change, the more they remain the same.", as this same tactic is employed even today in society, politics, and dare I say, even in the church. Lord have mercy on us.
My answer to the question at the end of the lesson:
Refusing to be enlightened about God's spiritually perceived Truth – inspired, corrected, and directed by the Holy Spirit –, can only lead to prolonged or even permanent spiritual blindness. God had given Israel's religious leaders many opportunities to consider the truthfulness of the demonstrations of heavenly powers being used by Jesus to help in time of need; but they refused to believe.
What prevented them from accepting Jesus as the one God sent to free mankind from bondage? Why, instead of praising God, did they accuse Jesus - ‘the ‘Repairer of the Breach' -, to have received His power from God’s adversary, Lucifer - Isaiah 58:12? Their spiritual blindness became God’s perfect example for man living without spiritual sight – Col.1:16.
The Holy Spirit’s testimony could not reach them because they steadfastly rejected to believe what He told them! I consider this to be the unpardonable sin – persistently rejecting the Holy Spirit, slandering it's integrity - preferring ones own understanding and so rejecting the Light of God - Matt.12:31; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10. My prayer is for healing of our spiritual blindness.
Amen,thanks all for your comments
This reflection highlights the irony of spiritual blindness versus enlightenment. It reminds us to remain open to truth and insight. Thanks for sharing.
In response to a comment above what the devil can do if we don't connect with Christ.
On the contrary out of fear(reverence), I serve the Lord. That is as close to through love I love the Lord. Most of us are Gentiles. The best example of what Gentiles do when they fear the Lord is found in Acts 16:34.
The blind man had no fear of the fear type, out of reverence and rejoicing he went forth praising the Lord, without hesitancy or restraint he proclaimed, Christ is a prophet. John 9:17. Where did he get his will to to the will of God, Philippians 2:13, without fear of the Pharisees? The power of God dispelled his fears to proclaim his sovereignty. 2 Timothy 1:7. I believe in the power of God to yank us out of the complacency found in the deceptions of the devil. The best way is to allow Christ into your heart, He is the One who fills your heart completely with His light no room then for the darkness of the devil.
Have Faith in God.
Have Faith in God.